Great, I’m also interested in this subject, and now I have a few questions to ask
Based on what you’ve already published, is this the clearest image you can get?
At the current or slightly better level, these photos are interesting enough to appreciate our collection in a new way.
But what if we could go further? For example, pencils like H-2005 or Smash, we already have enough complete disassembly cases and pictures, in the sense of understanding its internal structure, the physical disassembly of the pen is often more informative than an overall scan image.
For pencils like Qx or E500, those that maybe can’t be completely disassembled (in non destructive way), although some of them can find corresponding patents, but they are sometimes different from the actual product in details, and this is where I hope the scan can play a role. Take a look at these X-ray photos below (from Twitter user @altis0510, I asked him, he had access to these devices before, but no longer now)
I think we could get better quality images on a newer CT scanner with higher resolution. We have some with 4x the resolution of this one, and better software for processing. But at the end of the day (medical) CT imaging may not be the best technology to use because of all the back scattering and blowout caused by the metal.
We should be able to get better results with X-Ray fluoroscopy, as demonstrated in the pictures you provided.
Yes, I’m not an expert on this subject, but as far as I can tell, a device suitable for scanning pens shouldn’t have a big donut casing like that, that’s for medical use.
The appropriate solution seems to be called Industrial CT, which can do 3D or 2D X-ray scanning, and can be used to scan metal. I know some people offer this service on a per-scan basis, for industrial flaw detection or internal structure studying and so on, and the price range from a few hundred to a few dollars, the cheapest quote I’ve seen is for ancient coins, at this scale and definition, charging about $2~10 per shot.
Unfortunately, my collection is mainly focused on ballpoint pens, buying some common high-end pencils is not a high priority for me, so there’s not much I can do right now
This is the company that did start the idea for me! There is a post in this thread on 1/16 where I posted a link to a study they did on false AirPods. Although the technology they use (computed tomography) is the same, the final result from working with metal and plastic (industrial) as compared to soft tissues (medical) is worlds apart. I am way outside the use-case that the GE engineers used to design the system. Frankly I am surprised it worked at all.
I think I will have more flexibility with exposure and intensity using an X-Ray. So that is next.
Plus - although I technically have access to these devices, its only during routine maintenance windows, so we do not disrupt patient care. Some of our CT systems have an extremely high duty cycle and are always in use, some around the clock.
The X-Ray, specifically the Fluoroscopy systems that I want to try next are a little more accessible. I am hoping very much to have better quality images, hopefully like the ones @Linus2K posted above.
In case anyone is not familiar with X-Ray Fluoroscopy, it is a medical imaging procedure that uses several pulses of an X-ray beams to capture real-time footage of tissues inside the body. Think of an X-Ray as a static image, and a fluoro scan as a video. We use them for example to treat people who have difficulties swallowing, allowing the physician to noninvasively see exactly how the problem exhibits itself.
My end goal right now is to get detailed videos of MPs in action.
I am working in a project together with Viscom (German manufacturer of industrial imaging solutions), but we are not so close (neither cooperation nor spatial distance wise) that I can take images there. ;-/
This is unspeakably nerdy and I’m now obsessed with it.
@Pdunc67 well done, sir! What sort of resolution are those images? I find the colors pretty cool, and I’d love to make a lil‘ poster with them (I’d share it here, of course).
